Receiver

ray · 08-30-2006, 03:14 PM

I have an old Kenwood receiver for my home entertainment system and it works great, but I am thinking about upgrading in the near future. Ideally I would be getting something that can support the following pieces of hardware without having to swap one out for the other:

High Definition TV
VCR
DVD Player
XBox
Nintendo Wii
Infocus X1 projector
2 Cambridge Soundworks M50 Speakers

I would say my budget is between $400-$500 which I know isn't much, but I would also want something that will support any surround sound options in the future if I decide to spend more on toys.

Anybody have any suggestions? Any brands that I should stay away from regardless of how great their specs look?

TIA

InfiniteNothing · 08-30-2006, 04:00 PM

Does your HDTV output digital or analog? what connector? I assume the rest outputs analog except your DVD player which probably outputs digital coax? Can we assume you are happy with 100 watts per channel (the rating of your speakers)? Are you cool with 5.1 or do you want more? Into bells and whistles?

ray · 08-30-2006, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by InfiniteNothing

Does your HDTV output digital or analog? what connector? I assume the rest outputs analog except your DVD player which probably outputs digital coax? Can we assume you are happy with 100 watts per channel (the rating of your speakers)? Are you cool with 5.1 or do you want more? Into bells and whistles?

Projector (Infocus X1) has:

Sources: Computer (VGA 15-pin HDDSUB female); video (S-Video 6-pin mini DIN, component RCA through S-Video adapter, and composite video RCA); audio (3.5mm mini-jack)

My Tv has the following inputs/outputs:
Rear Input Connectors S-Video x 2 • Component x 2 • Composite x 3 • DVI x 1 • RF x 1 • Audio (RCA) x 6
Rear Output Connectors Composite x 1 • Audio (RCA) x 1
Front Input Connectors S-Video x 1 • Composite x 1 • Audio (RCA) x 1

VCR, XBox are Analog

DVD player has component video, s-video, digital coaxial audio, and analog

I am fine with 100W per channel. I honestly don't think I would ever see a need to exceed that.

I wouldn't mind 5.1, but would probably prefer 6.1

I don't really need any other bells and whistles. If there isn't something that is reasonably priced, I'd be willing to take a scaled down receiver that can take advantage of svideo/digital audio/hdtv crap and then i can link my old receiver up to handle the older analog devices (what my old roommate and i used to do)

redcolours · 08-30-2006, 07:29 PM

its gonna be tough to get a receiver that will allow HD streams to pas through it. i dont know of any off-hand, and if there is one, its mucho dinero. thats what i wanted when i got my HDTV and HD cable box 2 years ago. maybe theres a receiver that does that now, just not sure. my trade-off was to simply get a decent receiver that will output the sound to a decent set of surround speakers, and leave the HD output of my cable box directly into my HDTV.

that being said, your best answers may come from the AV aficionados at www.avsforum.com .

InfiniteNothing · 08-30-2006, 07:52 PM

leave your reciever to do audio while your TV/Projector handles and switches video. It's only a little bit more remote work and maybe with a smart remote it can be simplified. In terms of good deals, just wait around and an Onkyo deal usually pops up sooner or later.

pd123 · 09-06-2006, 12:07 AM

I just purchased a Denon AVR-2807.. read about it here http://reviews.cnet.com/Denon_AVR_28...2.html?tag=nav I know it's out of your price range, it can be had for $750 but if you go with those prices you give up the Denon warranty because you must purchase from a Denon dealer to not loose the 2 year warranty. I recently purchased it for $900 from an authorized dealer. I'm pairing it up to a Sony 60". So far there are so many inputs and outputs that between the tv and the receiver I hooked up everything I needed to do. The only glitch was that I wanted to have the option of using the internal speakers of the tv or use the speakers hooked up to the receiver (Cambridge Soundworks). I got around that two ways, one way the receiver needs to be on for the video, the other way, I need to get an audio "Y" connector and I can complete my installation. The "Y" connector will let me pipe the audio not only to the receiver but to an input on the tv. The "Y" connector can be had for under $10.

08-30-2006, 03:14 PM	#1
ray captain awesome Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 7,054	Receiver I have an old Kenwood receiver for my home entertainment system and it works great, but I am thinking about upgrading in the near future. Ideally I would be getting something that can support the following pieces of hardware without having to swap one out for the other: High Definition TV VCR DVD Player XBox Nintendo Wii Infocus X1 projector 2 Cambridge Soundworks M50 Speakers I would say my budget is between $400-$500 which I know isn't much, but I would also want something that will support any surround sound options in the future if I decide to spend more on toys. Anybody have any suggestions? Any brands that I should stay away from regardless of how great their specs look? TIA

08-30-2006, 07:29 PM	#4
redcolours in living colour Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: above a raging c Posts: 1,739	its gonna be tough to get a receiver that will allow HD streams to pas through it. i dont know of any off-hand, and if there is one, its mucho dinero. thats what i wanted when i got my HDTV and HD cable box 2 years ago. maybe theres a receiver that does that now, just not sure. my trade-off was to simply get a decent receiver that will output the sound to a decent set of surround speakers, and leave the HD output of my cable box directly into my HDTV. that being said, your best answers may come from the AV aficionados at www.avsforum.com . __________________ there are pictures, but no,nothing happens on my site.

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08-30-2006, 04:00 PM	#2
InfiniteNothing Chief of Naval Operations Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: San Diego Posts: 10,086	Does your HDTV output digital or analog? what connector? I assume the rest outputs analog except your DVD player which probably outputs digital coax? Can we assume you are happy with 100 watts per channel (the rating of your speakers)? Are you cool with 5.1 or do you want more? Into bells and whistles?

08-30-2006, 07:52 PM	#5
InfiniteNothing Chief of Naval Operations Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: San Diego Posts: 10,086	leave your reciever to do audio while your TV/Projector handles and switches video. It's only a little bit more remote work and maybe with a smart remote it can be simplified. In terms of good deals, just wait around and an Onkyo deal usually pops up sooner or later.

09-06-2006, 12:07 AM	#6
pd123 Commander Join Date: Apr 2000 Posts: 1,465	I just purchased a Denon AVR-2807.. read about it here http://reviews.cnet.com/Denon_AVR_28...2.html?tag=nav I know it's out of your price range, it can be had for $750 but if you go with those prices you give up the Denon warranty because you must purchase from a Denon dealer to not loose the 2 year warranty. I recently purchased it for $900 from an authorized dealer. I'm pairing it up to a Sony 60". So far there are so many inputs and outputs that between the tv and the receiver I hooked up everything I needed to do. The only glitch was that I wanted to have the option of using the internal speakers of the tv or use the speakers hooked up to the receiver (Cambridge Soundworks). I got around that two ways, one way the receiver needs to be on for the video, the other way, I need to get an audio "Y" connector and I can complete my installation. The "Y" connector will let me pipe the audio not only to the receiver but to an input on the tv. The "Y" connector can be had for under $10.

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